Handling Two Sgpio Channels Using Single Sgpio Decoder on a Backplane Controller

1. A backplane controller of a backplane and for handling two serial general purpose input/output (SGPIO) channels by using one SGPIO decoder, comprising: a backplane controller chip; a first SGPIO channel interface in communication with a first SGPIO channel for receiving control commands and control data from a user at a host computer for a first group of drive slots on the backplane; a second SGPIO channel interface in communication with a second SGPIO channel for receiving control commands and control data from the user at the host computer for a second group of drive slots on the backplane, wherein the first SGPIO channel and the second SGPIO channel are provided at an SGPIO interface at a host bus adapter (HBA), wherein the first SGPIO channel interface and the second SGPIO channel interface at the backplane controller are in communication with the first SGPIO channel and the second SGPIO channel at the HBA, respectively; an SGPIO decoder in communication with the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots in an alternating base according a clock signal; a first SGPIO output configured to connect with the output of the SGPIO decoder to the first group of drive slots; a second SGPIO output configured to connect with the output of the SGPIO decoder to the second group of drive slots; a timer; and firmware of the backplane controller.

2. The backplane controller of claim 1 , wherein the communication between the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller and the first SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA is through a first SGPIO bus, the communication between the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller and the second SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA is through a second SGPIO bus.

3. The backplane controller of claim 1 , wherein each of the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots comprises a plurality of storage drives, and each of the first group of drive slots is designated by a first device number, and each of the second group of drive slots is designated by a second device number.

4. The backplane controller of claim 3 , wherein the backplane controller is in communication with the host computer through the HBA, the HBA further comprising: a PCI interface configured for the user to send control commands and control data to at least one drive of the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots for monitoring and controlling the at least one drive, and receive response from the at least one drive; and a host bus adapter controller having firmware configured to perform HBA operations.

5. The backplane controller of claim 4 , wherein the firmware of the backplane controller is configured to perform one or more of following operations: receiving control commands and control data from the user for monitoring and controlling the first group of drive slots through the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip; and receiving control commands and control data from the user for monitoring and controlling the second group of drive slots through the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip; checking a timer signal having a first time period and a second time period, from the backplane controller chip; forwarding the control commands and control data from the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip to the first group of drive slots through the first SGPIO output during the first time period, and forwarding the control commands and control data from the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip to the second group of drive slots through the second SGPIO output during the second time period; receiving response through the first SGPIO output from the drive of the first group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed during the first time period, and receiving response through the second SGPIO output from the drive of the second group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed during the second time period; and sending the response from the drive of the first group of drive slots to the host computer through the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip, and sending the response from the drive of the second group of drive slots to the host computer through the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip.

6. The backplane controller of claim 5 , wherein the first time period and the second time are substantially equal.

7. The backplane controller of claim 5 , wherein control data comprise the first device number for the drive of the first group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed, and the second device number for the drive of the second group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed.

8. The backplane controller of claim 5 , wherein the control commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the SGPIO specification to instruct the backplane controller to monitor the drive and LEDs associated with the drive, and control the functions of the drive, and the LEDs associated with the drive.

9. The backplane controller of claim 5 , wherein the control commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) specification to instruct the backplane controller to monitor the drive and LEDs associated with the drive, and control the functions of the drive, and the LEDs associated with the drive.

10. The backplane controller of claim 9 , wherein the IPMI control commands comprises a plurality of extended OEM IPMI commands.

11. A computer-implemented method for handling two SGPIO channels by using one SGPIO decoder, comprising: establishing communication between a backplane controller on a backplane and a host computer through a host bus adapter (HBA) over an SGPIO interface at the HBA; receiving control commands and control data for monitoring and controlling a first group of drive slots through a first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller; and receiving control commands and control data for monitoring and controlling a second group of drive slots through a second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller, wherein a first SGPIO channel and a second SGPIO channel are provided at the SGPIO interface at the HBA, wherein the first SGPIO channel interface and the second SGPIO channel interface at the backplane controller are in communication with the first SGPIO channel and the second SGPIO channel at the HBA, respectively; checking a timer signal having a first time period and a second time period, from the backplane controller; forwarding the control commands and control data from the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip to the first group of drive slots through a first SGPIO output of the backplane controller during the first time period, and forwarding the control commands and control data from the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip to the second group of drive slots through a second SGPIO output of the backplane controller during the second time period; receiving response through the first SGPIO output from the drive of the first group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed during the first time period, and receiving response through the second SGPIO output from the drive of the second group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed during the second time period; and sending the response from the drive of the first group of drive slots to the host computer through the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip, and sending the response from the drive of the second group of drive slots to the host computer through the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the backplane controller is in communication with the host computer through the HBA, the HBA further comprising: a PCI interface configured for the user to send control commands and control data to at least one drive of the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots for monitoring and controlling the at least one drive, and receive response from the at least one drive; and a host bus adapter controller having firmware configured to perform HBA operations.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the first SGPIO channel interface is in communication with the first SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA for receiving control commands and control data from the user at the host computer for the first group of drive slots on the backplane; wherein the second SGPIO channel interface is in communication with the second SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA for receiving control commands and control data from the user at the host computer for the second group of drive slots on the backplane; wherein the backplane controller further comprises: an SGPIO decoder in communication with the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots in an alternating base according a clock signal; a first SGPIO output configured to connect with the output of the SGPIO decoder to the first group of drive slots; a second SGPIO output configured to connect with the output of the SGPIO decoder to the second group of drive slots; a timer; and firmware of the backplane controller.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the communication between the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller and the first SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA is through a first SGPIO bus, the communication between the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller and the second SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA is through a second SGPIO bus.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein each of the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots comprises a plurality of drives, and each of the first group of drive slots is designated by a first device number, and each of the second group of drive slots is designated by a second device number.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein control data comprise the first device number for the drive of the first group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed, and the second device number for the drive of the second group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the first time period and the second time are substantially equal.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the control commands and control data are configured in accordance with the SGPIO specification to instruct the backplane controller to monitor the drive and LEDs associated with the drive, and control the functions of the drive, and the LEDs associated with the drive.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the control commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the IPMI specification to instruct the backplane controller to monitor the drive and LEDs associated with the drive, and control the functions of the drive, and the LEDs associated with the drive.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , wherein the IPMI control commands comprises a plurality of extended OEM IPMI commands.

21. A non-transitory computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of a backplane controller, cause the processor to perform following operations to handling two SGPIO channels by using one SGPIO decoder: establishing communication between a backplane controller on a backplane and a host computer through a host bus adapter (HBA) over an SGPIO interface at the HBA; receiving control commands and control data from a user for monitoring and controlling a first group of drive slots through a first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller; and receiving control commands and control data from the user for monitoring and controlling a second group of drive slots through a second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller, wherein a first SGPIO channel and a second SGPIO channel are provided at the SGPIO interface at the HBA, wherein the first SGPIO channel interface and the second SGPIO channel interface at the backplane controller are in communication with the first SGPIO channel and the second SGPIO channel at the HBA, respectively; checking a timer signal having a first time period and a second time period, from the backplane controller; forwarding the control commands and control data from the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip to the first group of drive slots through a first SGPIO output of the backplane controller during the first time period, and forwarding the control commands and control data from the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip to the second group of drive slots through a second SGPIO output of the backplane controller during the second time period; receiving response through the first SGPIO output from the drive of the first group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed during the first time period, and receiving response through the second SGPIO output from the drive of the second group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed during the second time period; and sending the response from the drive of the first group of drive slots to the host computer through the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip, and sending the response from the drive of the second group of drive slots to the host computer through the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller chip.

22. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the backplane controller is in communication with the host computer through the HBA, the HBA further comprising: a PCI interface configured for the user to send control commands and control data to at least one drive of the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots for monitoring and controlling the at least one drive, and receive response from the at least one drive; and a host bus adapter controller having firmware configured to perform HBA operations.

23. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the first SGPIO channel interface is in communication with the first SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA for receiving control commands and control data from the user at the host computer for the first group of drive slots on the backplane; wherein the second SGPIO channel interface is in communication with the second SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA for receiving control commands and control data from the user at the host computer for the second group of drive slots on the backplane; wherein the backplane controller further comprises: an SGPIO decoder in communication with the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots in an alternating base according a clock signal; a first SGPIO output configured to connect with the output of the SGPIO decoder to the first group of drive slots; a second SGPIO output configured to connect with the output of the SGPIO decoder to the second group of drive slots; a timer; and firmware of the backplane controller.

24. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the communication between the first SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller and the first SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA is through a first SGPIO bus, the communication between the second SGPIO channel interface of the backplane controller and the second SGPIO channel of the SGPIO interface of the HBA is through a second SGPIO bus.

25. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 21 , wherein each of the first group of drive slots and the second group of drive slots comprises a plurality of drives, and each of the first group of drive slots is designated by a first device number, and each of the second group of drive slots is designated by a second device number.

26. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 25 , wherein control data comprise the first device number for the drive of the first group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed, and the second device number for the drive of the second group of drive slots to which the control commands and control data are directed.